Wet Areas (Bathrooms & Laundries

Kitchen, Bathroom Vanity & Laundry

See the points below for guidelines on how best to care for and protect your kitchen and bathroom benches and cupboards:

— Kitchen and vanity benchtops can be made from decorative laminate products with a moisture resistant substrate. Even though laminate is a moisture resistant product, water spillage should be dried off immediately. — Do not place pans or dishes taken directly from hot plates or the oven on to quartz, granite, marble or laminate benchtops as this can cause them to mark or crack; use a protective board or coaster. Do not boil your kettle directly on laminate or laminate joints.

Instead, boil on a board or a coaster. — Do not use quartz, granite, marble or laminate benchtops as an ironing or cutting surface. All cutting and chopping of food stuffs should be done on an appropriate board or coaster. — Keep all laminate surfaces clean by wiping over with a clean, soft, damp cloth and if necessary, use a common detergent. Never use harsh abrasives, steel wool, wax or other polishes. — Kitchen and bathroom vanity doors are also made from moisture resistant products and water spillage should be dried off immediately. — Never sit, lie or stand on quartz, granite or marble benchtops. They are a stone product and may crack or break. — Do not place heavy cardboard or timber crates onto any benchtops as this can cause scuffing and scratching.

Tapware

Internal tap mixer sets are fitted with a cartridge with external taps having a washer. Overtime, water will wear down the tap settings. If your tap leaks, it is advised to change the cartridge/washer as soon as possible.

All taps provided in your new home have a twelve-month product warranty from the manufacturer. Tap washers (where applicable) are not covered under this warranty.

When it is necessary to change tap washers in shower compartments, it is essential to seal the mixer tap spindle and tile edges to ensure the water proof seal. It is recommended that these repairs be carried out by your qualified plumber. It is recommended any works are carried out by an approved plumber or contact the plumber shown on your Plumbing Compliance Certificate.

Laundries

Condensation on walls, windows can be caused by clothes dryers beyond the builders’ control. This is generally caused by high humidity and differences from the internal and external temperatures. The effect of condensation will not be considered a defect.

Showers

Safety glass is fitted to all showers and should be cleaned regularly to prevent build-up of mould that could damage the bottom seal of the screen. The same applies to the shower tiles and base.

Although the glass is safe, you should avoid pouring hot water directly on to the glass, especially on cold nights or mornings. The abrupt change in temperature could cause the glass to expand and crack.

Toilets

You should call a plumber if your cistern overflows, as this is likely to have been caused by a blockage or a worn part such as a washer. More immediately however, you should turn off the water at the control tap at the back or on the side of the cistern and flush the toilet so that the cistern is empty. All works should be referred to your plumber.

Blue Loo

Please also be mindful of using the product ‘Blue Loo’. The cleaning agent can erode fittings inside the toilet which is not warranted by manufacturers.

General plumbing

Hot Water Systems

Your new home has a gas boosted solar hot water system. When the sun is shining the water in the storage tank automatically circulates through the solar panel on the roof and back to the storage tank. When you turn on a tap, this preheated water flows directly through the gas booster which senses its temperature and only fires up if the water needs extra energy. If it’s already hot enough, it flows to the tap without the need for any extra heating at all.

In accordance with Australian Standards regulations, the hot water to your home is tempered to a safe maximum temperature by a temperature control valve. Over time, and depending on the quality of your water supply, the filter in this control valve can begin to restrict the pressure of your hot water flow. If you notice a significant drop in hot water pressure, call the manufacturer’s service department.

As the water in the storage tank is heated by solar energy, it expands and pressure in the tank increases. A pressure control valve maintains a safe working pressure by relieving the excess through an overflow pipe.

Don’t worry if you notice water dripping from the overflow pipe – it’s only the pressure control valve doing its job. However, if you notice a constant flow of water, pull the release trigger on the side of the tank for a few seconds and then release it quickly. Check after a few minutes and if the water is still flowing, call the manufacturer’s service department. It is recommended that you carry out this procedure every six months to flush out any obstruction that may build-up in the valve or the overflow pipe.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Solar heated water can be extremely hot. Adults should take care when carrying out the above. Procedure and children should not be permitted to touch any fittings at all. All other maintenance should be performed by a qualified plumber.

Further information is available from the manufacturer’s website. solar.rheem.com.au

Water Hammer

Water hammer is the knocking sound associated with movement of hot or cold pipes within the confines of your home’s walls and ceiling. Taps should be turned off slowly to avoid water hammer. Sudden changes in pressure (i.e. from washing machines or dishwashers) will create some unavoidable knocking in the lines. Water hammer should not be confused with PVC pipe expansion, a noise that is produced when warm or hot water is discharged through a PVC drainage system either in the wall or ceiling space of double storey homes.

This is usually a low volume creaking noise and is normally heard only when water is being discharged. Loose fastenings and knocking of pipes not created by the sudden turning off of taps is considered to be a defect and is covered under warranty.

Flexible Hoses & Fitting Leaks

Flexible connector hoses can usually be found connecting your tapware underneath your kitchen sink cabinet, bathroom vanity cabinet, connecting your washing machine or dishwasher, under your laundry tub and connecting your toilet (either beside the toilet or located inside the cistern tank) and warning signs of failure can include bulging, twists, kinks, discolouration, fraying or rust spots on the braided metal or any signs of dripping or pooling water.

Stainless steel hoses generally have a maximum warranted lifespan under normal conditions but exposure to liquids, cleaning chemicals, ferrous metals, high water pressure, twisting or kinking of the hose will significantly reduce the operating life span and warranty of the hose which will require replacement more frequently. The water quality in your toilet cistern can vary depending on location and whether it is mains water, recycled water or rainwater tank supply and this can significantly affect the longevity of any connections. Any damaged or corroded hoses should be replaced immediately.

It is recommended you visually inspect any flexible stainlesssteel connectors hoses for any warning signs of failure on a regular basis and replace as required.

General plumbing

Burst Pipes & Joints

Although your house is structurally sound, it is impossible to avoid all damage from natural forces, especially sudden storms and exceptionally high winds. This can cause damage to roofs, windows, external flues and other parts of the house, and therefore these should be attended to immediately. In the event of such damage, you should contact your insurance company so that repairs and any rectification work can be put into effect as soon as possible.

Plumber/Drainer

May be responsible for all blockages associated within the inside or outside of the home for example sinks, toilets, stormwater and sewer drains.

The builder is not responsible for blocked or broken pipes that are caused by works carried out by the owner, for example, landscaping, paving, fencing, foreign objects or excessive toilet paper.

Handy Hints

It pays to turn off taps and mixer sets to the washing machine and dishwasher after use, as the hose to the washing machine is manufactured with flexible piping. In the event of a failure from the pipe this will help prevent the flooding of your home.

Inspection Openings (IOs)

Are provided at external locations around the home. It is important that these points are accessible at all times. Some homes will have silt pits installed on the property. It is important that these are not covered when landscaping takes place and these pits should be thoroughly cleaned out 3-4 times a year. For information on easement pits, contact your local authority or council.